Souvenir

As I said August 24-25 is the high light of August 2010.

Heto ang ilan sa mga memorable shots of those two events;
















Haha! Kakatuwa sana madami pa dumating na great events...

May Xmas pa at yung graduation ni Daryl...

Vibrant

Can These Men Still Save RNB?



Kahapon dumating na sa bansa ang sikat British RNB singer na si jay Sean para sa concert niya sa Manila...

Kilala si Jay Sean sa pagpapasikat ng mga kantang Down at Do You Remember.



Isa rin sa mga pinakakilala sa makabagong period ng RNB si Jason Derulo. Matagal na siyang sumusulat ng mga kanta para sa ibang RNB singers pero ginulat niya ang mundo sa "Wathca Say", "Riding' Solo" at ngayon sa "What If"




Pero hataw sa dancefloor ang mga hits ni Usher. Kahit matagal na siya sa industry, nakakagulat na kaya pa rin niyang makapagpasikat ng mga kanta as if bago lang din siya. Ang OMG at ang "DJ Got Us Falling In Love" ang mga beats na sikat sa mga parties ngayon.

Can these men bring another wave of RNB sensation? Malaki ang pag asa ng mainstream RNB ngayon.

Monthly Reflection Closing August 2010

In preparation for September, a monthly assessment is but naturally imperative.

Ang buwan nga ng Agosto ang pinaka favorite na month ko. Dahil sa naggagandahang music na lumalabas sa tuwing sasapit ang buwang ito at mga katakut takot na feasts and celebrations.

Sa month na ito kasi naganap ang pinakmaraming milestones sa buhay ko.

I just want to look back now sa kung paano na-spent ang buwang ito for this year.

First, noong August 7, Saturday unang confirmations para sa piyesta 2010. Marami ang naging activities before August 15. Dumating sila Kaira at Sharmaine sa bahay kasama si Ate Oyie. Saya kaya.

Downloading videos became instantly accessible nitong mga nakaraang araw. Ang pagppunat ko siguro sa Manila noong August 19 is actually a prelude sa mga magagnda pang mangyayari. Na-enjoy ko ang trip at ang mga new adventures.

Siguro masasabi ko na unlike last year na nagculminate ang August sa August 30 after the Liliw town fiesta, ang August 24-25 naman ang siyang main event ng August 2010.

Sa nagdaang piyesta, naganap ang pagbibinyag kay Jewel Keshia. Ito rin ang engrandeng celebration sa bahay na dinaluhan ng halos lahat ng pinaka malapit na kaibigan ko ngayon with matching two new visitors na kasama ni je at ni Jophet.

August 25, swimming namin sa RGO Resort. Isa sa pinakama gandang bonding activity ng buong barkada at getting to know na rin.

I think with these, I am ready to begin a new month and a new journey na rin.

Holiday After Holiday Situation

From Feasts to Commemoration

Sa date na ito, dapat lang talaga na mag-Holiday ang buong mundo. I've learned na kung ang isang empleyado ay puamsok sa araw na ito kahit Holiday, meron siyang 200% sa regular na kita. Kung ang suweldo niya ay nagkakahalaga ng Php 420, nangangahulugang may suweldo siya ngayon na Php840. Kung lumampas pa siya sa oras, halimbawa 8 hours lang ang pasok niya at naging 9 hours, meron siyang additional 30%. Ang tindi ano. Ngayon, kung hindi nga siya nag over time pero day off niya ngayon at nagkataong Holiday rin, at pumasok siya, babayaran siya ng kumpanya o ng ahensiya ng ganoon ring amount. 200% plus 30% ang total niya.

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Nasabi ko na dapat lang talaga kasi, bitin pa ang mga taga-Liliw sa piyesta na naganap kahapon. Bakit nga ba kapag mismong Linggo nagagannap ang mga event, tamad pang pumasok ang tao kapag Lunes. Kaya nga tunay na nakakabilib ang mga tao or empleyado na sa kabila ng pagiging Holiday ng araw na ito ay nagawa pa ring magtrabaho.

Sa araw na ito ipinagdiriwang ko rin ang double memorable events sa aking High school at love life. Noon kasing fourth year highschool ako, sa ganitong date namin ginanap ang culmination ng Linggo ng WIka at second kami sa nagkamit ng award sa Modnik, of course ang nanalo ng first prize ay ang pilot section. Ang saya ng victory party na ginawa namin sa Gregoria Resort.

Sa araw na ito ko rin nakita last year sa may simbahan si Lara Faye after almost months. Ang hirap matulog na alam mong aabot ang isang taon na di siya nakikita. Kaya sobrang saya ko noong makita ko siya sa 5pm mass noon. Hay... alam ko ganoon pa rin siya kaganda.

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Mamaya magsisimula ang pinakabagong palabas sa TV ni Richard Gutierrez, ang Survivor Celebrity Showdown. Marami ang magaabang dito at titingnan kung ano ang bagong pakulo ng GMA with this season lalo pa't actors na ang sasalang sa reality show.

Kahapon, natapos ang programa nila Ai Ai de las Alas at Kim Chiu. Pinanood ko talaga no. Kais nga sobrang seksi ng mukha ni Kim, hindi ko maiwasan magkaroon ng erection kapag nakikita ko siya. Ang ganda niya. Hindi ito nag sentro sa love story ni Kim kaya sa ending hindi malinaw kung sino ang pinili ng character niya. Nakasentro ito sa pag destroy ng image of materialistic ambitions. Ang importansiya ng isang payak na pamumuhay na hindi matutumbasan ng halaga ng kayamanan at marangyang buhay. Mahalaga pa rin ay ang peace of mind at ang matulog sa gabi na walang inaagrabyadong tao o nasasaktan.

Sa ginawa ng mga kandidata ng Miss Universe na napanuod ko kagabi habang lasing ang mga taga-Liliw, massasabi ko na matatalino ang mga nakalaban ng Miss Philippines. Maayos nilang nasagot ang mga tanong hindi gaya ng ating pambato. Mostly focused sa mga policy ng government ang topic ng questions. May question about internet use, mayroon ring about capital punishment at meron din about clothing and fashion designs. Ang ganda ni Jesinta Campbel na naging Miss Congeniality.

Hindi ko rin maiwasang mapansin at i-commend ang maganda short clip video ng party Pilipinas kung saan guamnap sa puppy love story sila Julie Ann San Jose at si Elmo Magalona na anak ng pumanaw na si Francis M. Ang ganda ng cinematography at ng sublimity. Ang ganda ng contours of story at ng musical scoring in all fairness. Sana lalo pang galingan ni Elmo kasi tunay namang mana siya sa lahi ng ama.

Only Humility Begets Generosity

It is in the family, first and foremost, where humility is learned and cultivated. Our family, for example, being a traditional Filipino family follows the practice of patriarchal culture. We have a designated chair for the father as head of the family in our dining room.

It is very encouraging when even youngest members of the family exemplifies the teachings of the family My cousin's daughters are living examples of our traditional virtue. Considering the case of theirs being wealthy, they still embrace the standard of living enjoyed by their relatives. Or is it perhaps because of their age that they still don't have a sense of who is rich and impoverished.

Another friend of mine who comes to mind when talking about humility is Rizzel. She regardless of their financial capacity, chose to live in very simple lifestyle. Although we were only given one year of bonding and laughters together, she remained a very good friend all these years. I admire the fact that she is contented and does not desire things that are extra high. her father and mother too, simple as they are always present in the Eucharistic Chapel offering their prayers as form of generosity, generosity of time.

Last night I was watching a Survivor Philippine special with Jessica Soho. An interview with the new host, who is also a favorite actor of mine, Richard Gutierrez arrested my attention. The crews of the survivor production team gave testimonies about how Richard as a host is. They said they never experienced any headache with Richard. he is cooperative, prepared, obedient and most of all simple in many ways. The actor never acted as a brat nor a royalty and I think it is because Richard is happy with who he is inside out. he doesn't have to brag of his persona just to lift himself. It is the people around who puts him paramount to everyone. And I think that is the reward of being humble.

Another humble person is Saint John the Baptist. Imagine being beheaded because of his righteous living and condemnation of incest. He is a person who is willing to give up life. And that is in itself a form of humility. A humble person is willing to forego his pride and other luxuries, but a more humble person is willing to give up his own life for the sake of Christian morality. Very timely, the gospel is read during the Feast of Saint John's Beheading. A reminder that all of us should be humble. Remember what he said when he saw Jesus, that he is not worthy to untie the thongs of his sandals.

But there is no other humble person who can surpass a humble God. A god who in his humility embraced the humanity remaining still as god and then accepted even death on a cross. This humility is the HUMILITY of all humilities. Jesus is practically teaching us to seat not on the throne but to serve without something in return to wait. Jesus is telling us that when we wait for recognition then the recognition prepared in heaven will not be given. DO not brag about redemption through religion, once you may find out one day on the judgment day that you are not saved. Instead be generous and humble. Generosity can only happen when one is truly humble. You cannot invite the poor if you think you are rich. Jesus told the host, invite the lame, the cripples, the blind because all of us are imperfect and in the Last Day the Lord will be doing the same. We are unworthy to be invited but the Lord invites us in heaven. There is a deep eschatological implication with that statement and we are not here to discuss that. Jesus wants us to practice humility by a visible generosity. That is why the Church being His body, is a Church for The Poor.

The Church herself is immersed in the quadrant of understanding and protecting the rights of the poor. More than that, I am to add that the Church is dedicating her very self in uplifting the status of living of every impoverished individuals not only financially but holistically. The Church should learn more from the poor and form the differently abled. There alone can humility prosper.

Natinal Heroes Enriching History

In the course of national history one person totally inspired most of us. I am for Apolinario Mabini as national hero.

Here are some info about Apolinario Mabini courtesy of
http://philippine-revolution.110mb.com/mabini_detailed.htm

Apolinario Mabini was born on July 23, 1864 in the village of Talaga in Tanauan, Batangas. He was the second of eight children of Dionisia Maranan, a vendor in the Tanauan market and a daughter of the village schoolteacher, and Inocencio Mabini, an unlettered peasant. A show of uncommon intelligence while tagging along with an elder brother to his grandfather's classes brought him to a regular school.

While studying at a school owned by Simplicio Avelino, he worked as a houseboy for a tailor in exchange for free board and lodging. He later transferred to the school of Fr. Valerio Malabanan, a famous educator in Tanauan who is mentioned in Jose Rizal's novel El Filibusterismo.

Mabini then went to the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila in 1881 as a scholar. It was there where he amazed a professor who thought of picking on him because of his bad clothes - as if poverty gave him any other choice. He was asked a series of very difficult questions, which he all answered excellently.

While studying at Letran, he earned money for his board and lodging by teaching children. Because of a chronic lack of funds, his studies in Manila went on and off.

In 1887, he completed his Bachilles en Artes with highest honors. The next year, he enrolled in law at the University of Santo Tomas. He completed his course in 1894.

Mabini, probably as a result of his wide readings, had begun to develop egalitarian ideas of sorts while a student at Letran. On one of his trips to Tanauan, he met a priest on the road. Following the custom then, the priest extended his hand to Mabini, expecting the young man to kiss it. Mabini shook the priest's hand instead, explaining to his brother afterwards that only parents' hands should be kissed. He began to take an active part in politics while studying law.

It is believed that at the University of Santo Tomas – considered Asia’s oldest university - he came into contact with fellow students who had links with the Reform Movement. He would later be given the task of corresponding regularly with Marcelo del Pilar, who was then agitating for reforms in Madrid through the paper La Solidaridad. His job was to inform del Pilar of the situation on the home front and explain what reforms were needed. He did this task assiduously even while practicing his profession.
When the revolution led by Andres Bonifacio broke out in 1896, Mabini did not immediately support it. He believed that the Reform Movement had not yet been given a full chance.

It was also in that year that he contracted a disease which paralyzed him from the waist down. He had to be confined at the San Juan de Dios Hospital.

His involvement in the Reform Movement had made him suspect in the eyes of the Spanish authorities, but his condition saved him from Bagumbayan - where a number of his friends were executed.

Apolinario Mabini
The execution of Rizal in December 1896 signified to Mabini the death of the Reform Movement. At this point he transferred his whole support to the Revolution. He wrote the pamphlets "El Verdadero Decalogo" and "Ordenanzas de la Revolucion," which were intended to inspire the revolutionaries in the fields and guide them in their conduct of the struggle; and a constitutional program for the Philippine government.

In 1898, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo invited Mabini to work in the Revolutionary Government. He helped in organizing it and wrote laws and decrees. He was appointed President of the Cabinet - a position equivalent to today's Executive Secretary, which is now manned by Alberto Romulo.

Unlike Aguinaldo, Mabini was suspicious of the Americans - who presented themselves purportedly to help the Filipinos secure liberty from Spain - early on. He was in fact against the declaration of independence on June 12, 1898; he thought it premature, as it revealed to the Americans the real objectives of the Filipinos, while the intentions of the supposed allies were unknown. But other forces within the Revolutionary Government had prevailed at that time.

Later developments would prove Mabini right. In December 1898, unknown to the Filipinos, the United States obtained the Philippines from Spain for $20 million. In February 1899, the United States launched its war of conquest against the Philippines.

Mabini would become a leading luminary of the resistance against the U.S. occupation of the Philippines. He wrote articles and pamphlets urging his compatriots to continue the struggle for freedom and condemning American military atrocities against the Philippine populace.

He also disputed U.S. propaganda which described the occupation as intending to train the Filipinos in the art of self-government: he would argue that self-government is learned by experience, as proven by the American people themselves, and that Filipinos would never learn self-government while under foreign control - and this would give the Americans "justification" for staying in the country indefinitely.

He also junked the U.S. line that the occupation of the Philippines would serve to make the country prosperous, arguing that any "prosperity" that would be derived from the American occupation would benefit the Americans and not the Filipinos.

MY CONTENTION FOR NATIONAL HERO

Ito naman ang masasabi ko sa pagiging national hero ni Mabini;

Walang kinalaman si Jose Mercado Rizal sa Araw ng Kalayaan. Sa totoo lang, tutol siya sa pagaaklas ng mga katipunero. Kung siya ang masusunod, nais niyang maging pansamantalang lalawigan ng Espanya ang Pilipinas at magpatatag ng kabuhayan at sandatahan bago tuluyang humiwalay. Ang plano niyang ito ay aabutin ng ilang taon at kung natupad, maaaring nakalaya ang Pilipinas sa taong 1917. Nangangahulugan, hindi bahagi si Rizal ng pagtatagumpay noong ika 12 ng Hunyo 1898 at dalawang taon na siyang patay. Papaano nga ba naging pambansang bayani si Jose Mercado? Siya nga ba ang nagiisang karapatdapat na Pilipino na kakatawan sa natatanging kadakilaan ng ating lahi?

Pinili si Rizal bilang pambansang bayani hindi ng mga Pilipino kung hindi ng isang sangguniang itinatag ng mga Amerikano. Pinili siya gamit ang pamantayang mula sa mga dayuhan. Kung ihahambing kay Andres Bonifacio, si Rizal ang pipiliin ng mga Amerikano. Siya ay nakapagaral sa isang pamantasang Espanyol at marunong ring magsalita ng bahagyang Ingles. Nanggaling sa nakaririwasang maganak at nakapagsuot ng mga kasuotang may hawig sa mga banyaga. Lamang ang katangian ni Rizal kay Bonifacio. Sa madaling salita, hindi naging patas ang laban sa pagitan ni Rizal at ng ibang mga bayani. At kung hindi si Rizal ang dapat maging pambansang bayani, si Bonifacio ba ang tunay na anino ng kagitingan ng kabihasnang Pilipino?

Bagama't itinuturing bilang pambansang bayani ng Hukbong Katihan si Andres Bonifacio at ako naman ay awang awa sa lahat ng sinapit niya, hindi ko rin maipaglalabang si Bonifacio na nga ang marapat sa turing ng pambansang bayani. Una, hindi mapagtitibay na dakila ang kanyang katapangan sanhi na rin ng wala sa lugar niyang pagpapasimula ng pagaaklas. Hindi naman talaga dahas ang sagot sa mapaniil na pananakop ng Espanya. patunay sa wala sa lugar niyang katapangan ang tala ng sigalot sa loob mismo ng Katipunan. Hindi maitatatwang hindi naging mabuti ang pakikitungo niya sa ilang kasama at pinatunayan ito sa isang pagpupulong na ginanap sa Tejeros. Ni isang mataas na puwesto ay hindi napanalunan ni Bonifacio. Hindi siya tunay na kinilalang ama ng buong katipunan. Pangalawa, alinsunod sa nabanggit na katayuan niya sa katipunan, hindi banyaga ang kumitil ng kanyang buhay kung hindi kapwa rin niya Pilipino. Malaking tanong kung taal ba ang pagiging martir niya. Pangatlo, hindi dahilan ang pagkamaralita niya upang maging pangunahing bayani sapagkat hindi naman lahat ng PIlipino ay maralita. Magiging dahilan ito upang ang mga nasadlak sa karukhaan ay manatili at hindi na lumaban pa paaahon mula sa kahirapan kung ang pambansang bayani nga ay nanatiling aba hanggang sa mamatay.

Hostage Crisis; My Closer Look

"If Gordon is president, this will never happen."

Too late for that statement. Ngayon pa. Ang nakakainis ay ang sobra sobrang pambabastos ng pamahalaan ni Aquino sa mga taga-HongKong. Una ang hindi pagsagot sa tawag ng Chief Executive. Second ang hindi talaga nila pakikipag coordinate sa Hong Kong Government during that 11 hours of hostage drama. Third, Ang paglalagay ng watawat sa kabaong ng hostage taker. Fourth ang hindi agad agad na paghingi ng dispensa ng pangulo at lalo kong ikinaiinis ay ang pagpapalayas sa mga forensic experts sa lugar kung saan naroon ang bus habang suot na nila ang costume nila.

Ano ba naman yung sila na muna ang paunahin dahil siguradong mas maayos ang gagawin nila. After all that transpired sa tingin nila may tiwala pa ang marami sa gagawin ng SOCO?

Malaki ang naging epekto ng insidenteng yaon sa imahe ng mga Pilipino. Mayroon ngang Pilipino sa Hong Kong na kailangan pang sabihing Indonesian siya para lang hindi saktan ng mga galit na galit na Hong Kong citizens.

Bakit walang nagawa ang Pilipinas? Alam ko mayroon dapat nagawa. Hindi ba dapat rin talgang humingi ng sorry ang pangulo hindi lang sa mga taga Hong Kong kundi pati na sa lahat ng Pilipino dahil pumalpak ang mga tao niya?

Kung si Gordon ang nasa posisyon niya, malayong mangyari yun. Ito ang malaking kaibahan ni Gordon kay Noynoy. Wala siya nung EXPERIENCE. Lahat ng yan nadaanan na ni Gordon. Alam na niya ang makipagareglo sa mga Abu Sayaff, sa mga rebelde, sa mga nasa kaliwa. Puno siya ng experience. Unang unang gagawin ni Gordon, kakausapin niya agad ang Chiref Executive ng Hong Kong taliwas sa nangyari na hindi makontak si Noynoy.

Ito po yung hindi naisip ng botante natin noong eleksiyon. Sino yung talagang handa para maging pangulo. Buong buhay ni Gordon ay paghahanda sa pagiging pangulo. Of course, second only to Ninoy. Kaso patay na si Ninoy eh. Hindi handa para maging pangulo si Noynoy dahil namatay lang ang nanay niya kaya siya ginawang standard bearer ng Liberal.

Hindi ko kayang sikmuarain na ang pangulo natin ay magaling lang sa ideya. Puro ideya lang kasi ang kinakain kapag eleksiyon, hindi nila nakita yung mga sinasabi ni Gordon noong kampanya na puro praktikal na bagay. Gaya na lamang nung sinabi niya na kapag naging pangulo siya alam ng lahat ang cellphone number niya. Ngayon nakita natin tama pala yun. Dapat pala alam ng lahat. Ngayon alam natin na hilaw ang naging pangulo at hindi puwede na magaling lang sa salita at puro ideya. Dapt ang pangulo ay sobrang talino. I think si Gordon yun. Dapat may EXPERIENCE.